Centrifugal-force pendulum device

ABSTRACT

A centrifugal-force pendulum device having a pendulum flange and at least two pendulum masses fastened on both sides of the pendulum flange by means of a spacer bolt received in a cut-out of the pendulum flange to form a pendulum mass pair, wherein the pendulum mass pair is guided and pivoted in a limited manner with respect to the pendulum flange by means of at least two rolling elements, and the rolling elements are received and roll in guide tracks in the pendulum masses and in complementarily shaped guide tracks in the pendulum flange, and wherein the spacer bolt is equipped, in its axial region which reaches through the cut-out in the pendulum flange, with damping means for damping contact of the spacer bolt against the cut-out, and compression of the damping means is limited by contact of a rolling element against the guide track which receives the rolling element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is filed under 35 U.S.C. §120 and §365(c) as a continuation of International Patent Application PCT/DE2011/002145, filed Dec. 20, 2011, which application claims priority from German Patent Application No. DE 10 2010 055 895.8, filed Dec. 23, 2010, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A centrifugal pendulum device is known from application DE 10 2010 011 141.4, having a pendulum flange which can rotate about an axis of rotation, and having two pendulum masses which are attached to create a pendulum mass pair, the same arranged on both sides of the pendulum flange in the axial dimension by means of a spacer bolt accommodated in a recess of the pendulum flange. The pendulum mass pair is further able to pivot in a guided and limited manner with respect to the pendulum flange by means of two roller elements, forming a pendulum track. For this purpose, the roller elements are accommodated in curved, and particularly kidney-shaped tracks in the pendulum masses, and in the complementary-shaped guide tracks in the pendulum flange, and can roll in the same. In an axial region of the spacer bolt, which engages through the recess in the pendulum flange, said spacer bolt is surrounded by a damping means in the form of a damping sheath, for the purpose of damping the impact of the spacer bolt on the recess. The damping of the impact is realized by the damping means compressing a spring, and thereby forming a spring compression path. In this case, when a greater load occurs, meaning a large relative impulse in the pendulum masses and/or the pendulum mass pair relative to the pendulum flange, an excessively high load can occur on the damping means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem addressed by the invention is that of increasing the reliability of a centrifugal pendulum device, and reducing the generation of noise.

Accordingly, a centrifugal pendulum device is suggested which has a pendulum flange and which has at least two pendulum masses which are attached on each side of the pendulum flange by means of a spacer bolt accommodated in a recess of the pendulum flange to create a pendulum mass pair, wherein the pendulum mass pair is able to pivot relative to the pendulum flange in a guided and limited manner by means of at least two roller elements, and the roller elements are accommodated in guide tracks in the pendulum masses, and in complementary-shaped guide tracks in the pendulum flange, and can roll in the same, and wherein the spacer bolt, on an axial region thereof, which engages through the recess in the pendulum flange, is equipped with a damping means for the purpose of damping the impact of the spacer bolt on the recess. A spring compression of the damping means can be limited by a roller element impacting on the guide track which accommodates the roller element, thereby increasing the reliability of the centrifugal pendulum device, particularly of the damping means on the spacer bolt.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the damping means is compressed when the roller element impacts on the guide track. A maximum compression of the damping means is advantageously limited by the impacting of the roller element on the guide track.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the damping means encloses the spacer bolt, forming a damping sheath.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the damping means is formed from an elastic material, wherein the elastic material can be an elastomer and/or a plastic and/or a rubber and/or a composite material.

The damping means is advantageously connected to the spacer bolt in a material connection or a positive-fit connection.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two pendulum mass pairs are arranged neighboring each other on the peripheral surfaces thereof.

The invention also comprises a torque transmission device such as a hydrodynamic torque converter and/or a torsional vibration damper and/or a wet or dry clutch and/or a double-mass flywheel having a centrifugal pendulum device according to one or more of the embodiments above.

Additional advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention are found in the description and the drawing, wherein the illustrations thereof are not given with scale accuracy, for reasons of clarity. All explained features can be used not only in the given combination, but also in other combinations and/or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-section of a torsional vibration damper with a centrifugal pendulum device according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional side view of a centrifugal pendulum device according to the prior art; and,

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a cutaway of a centrifugal pendulum device in a special embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A partial cross-section view of a torsional vibration damper 10 with a centrifugal pendulum device 12 according to the prior art is shown in FIG. 1. A friction plate carrier 16 is arranged, to function as a clutch output of a clutch device, on the damper input part 14 of the torsional vibration damper 10. The clutch device can be designed, by way of example, as a torque converter lock-up clutch and/or as a wet clutch. The torsional vibration damper 10 in this case is functionally integrated between the clutch output and an output hub 18, wherein the output hub 18 can be connected via a toothing 20 to a transmission input shaft of a transmission in a drive train of a motor vehicle.

The damper input part 14 is centered radially on the inside of the output hub 18, and secured axially, and the outermost peripheral segment thereof encompasses first energy storage elements 22, for example coil springs, which functionally connect the damper input part 14 to an intermediate damper part 24, wherein the intermediate damper part 24 is able to rotate to a limited degree with respect to the damper input part 14. The intermediate damper part 24 is in turn able to rotate to a limited degree with respect to the damper output part 28 via the action of a second set of energy storage elements 26—for example coil springs—which are positioned further inward. The damper output part 28 is fixed to the output hub 18 in a manner preventing rotation, for example via a welded connection.

The intermediate damper part 24 consists of two axially spaced disk parts 30, 32 which axially enclose the damper output part 28 and which are fixed to each other in a manner preventing rotation by means of an attachment means, which is not illustrated here, such as spacer bolts or a spacer rivet. The one disk part 32 in this case is extended radially outward to form a pendulum flange 34. The pendulum flange 34 is an integral component of the disk part 32. The disk part 32 is rotationally fixed inward to a turbine hub 36, and the turbine hub 36 serves to bind and support a turbine wheel of a hydrodynamic torque converter. The turbine hub 36 is centered on the output hub 18 and is arranged so as to be able to rotate with respect to the same.

The pendulum flange 34 accommodates two axially opposed pendulum masses 38 in a segment which is radially further outward, wherein the pendulum masses 38 are connected to each other via a spacer bolt 40 to create a pendulum mass pair, and the spacer bolt 40 engages through a recess 42 in the pendulum flange 34. The spacer bolt 40 is fixed to the pendulum mass 38, for example by riveting, welding, bolting, or caulking.

A three-dimensional side view of a centrifugal pendulum device 12 according to the prior art is illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the upper pendulum mass in this illustration has been faded out to clarify the region lying below it axially. The centrifugal pendulum device 12 is arranged on the disk part 32 of the intermediate damper part of the torsional vibration damper, wherein the radial extension of the disk part 32 forms the pendulum flange 34 to accommodate the pendulum masses 38 arranged on both sides of the pendulum flange 34, wherein two pendulum masses 38 are arranged on each axial side of the pendulum flange 34, and are connected to each other via a total of three spacer bolts 40, to create a pendulum mass pair. The spacer bolts 40 each engage through recesses 42 in the pendulum flange 34, wherein the recesses 42 are shaped like a kidney such that they allow a pendulum movement of the pendulum masses 38 with respect to the pendulum flange 34, along a defined pendulum track 44. The pendulum track is in turn fixed by the contour of guide tracks 46 in the pendulum masses 38, and complementary guide tracks 48 in the pendulum flange 34, wherein roller elements 50, for example roller bodies, are accommodated in the kidney-shaped guide tracks, and these can roll in the guide tracks 46, 48.

In an axial region of the spacer bolt [40] which engages through the recess 42 in the pendulum flange 38, the spacer bolt 40 is equipped with a damping means 52 in the form of a damping sheath, for the purpose of damping an impact of the spacer bolt 40 on the recess 42. In particular, the damping means 52 consists of an elastic material, for example an elastomer and/or a plastic and/or a rubber and/or a composite material. In this case, the damping means is fixed to the spacer bolt, preferably by a material- , positive-fit, force-fit, or friction-fit connection.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a recess of a centrifugal pendulum device 12 in a special embodiment of the invention. In this case, the centrifugal pendulum device 12 is illustrated in a position of maximum extension with respect to the pendulum track, wherein the damping means 52 is compressed on the spacer bolt 40. The maximum extension of the pendulum mass 38 with respect to the pendulum flange 34 is limited by the roller element 50 abutting or impacting the respective guide track 46, 48 in the pendulum flange and the pendulum mass, by the roller element coming into contact with the contact surfaces 54 of the guide track 46, and with the contact surfaces 56 of the guide track 48, thereby preventing the damping means 52 from further compressing. In this way, it is possible to prevent an excessive load on the damping means 52. The impact of the roller element 50 on the guide tracks 46, 48 can preferably occur in a damped manner by means of the compression of the damping means 52 on the spacer bolt 40.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   10 torsional vibration damper -   12 centrifugal pendulum device -   14 damper input part -   16 friction plate carrier -   18 output hub -   20 toothing -   22 energy storage element -   24 intermediate damper part -   26 energy storage element -   28 damper output part -   30 disk part -   32 disk part -   34 pendulum flange -   36 turbine hub -   38 pendulum mass -   40 spacer bolt -   42 recess -   44 pendulum track -   46 guide track -   48 guide track -   50 roller element -   52 damping means -   54 contact surface -   56 contact surface 

What is claimed is:
 1. A centrifugal pendulum device (12) having a pendulum flange (34) and having at least two pendulum masses (38) arranged on both sides of the pendulum flange (34) which are attached to create a pendulum mass pair by means of a spacer bolt (40) which is accommodated in a recess (42) of the pendulum flange (34), wherein the pendulum mass pair can pivot with respect to the pendulum flange (34) in a guided and limited manner by means of at least two roller elements (50), and the roller elements (50) are accommodated in guide tracks (48) in the pendulum masses and in complementary-shaped guide tracks (46) in the pendulum flange, and can roll in the same, and wherein the axial region of the spacer bolt (40) which engages through the recess (42) in the pendulum flange is equipped with a damping means (52) for the purpose of damping an impact of the spacer bolt (40) on the recess (42), wherein a compression of the damping means (52) can be limited by an impact of the roller element (50) on the guide track (46, 48) which accommodates the roller element.
 2. The centrifugal pendulum device (12) recited in claim 1, wherein the damping means (52) is compressed when the roller element (50) impacts the guide track (46, 48).
 3. The centrifugal pendulum device (12) recited in claim 2, wherein a maximum compression of the damping means is limited by the impact.
 4. The centrifugal pendulum device (12) recited in claim 1, wherein the damping means (52) encloses the spacer bolt (40) as a damping sheath.
 5. The centrifugal pendulum device (12) recited in claim 1, wherein the damping means (52) is formed from an elastic material.
 6. The centrifugal pendulum device (12) recited in claim 2, wherein the elastic material is an elastomer and/or a plastic and/or a rubber and/or a composite material.
 7. The centrifugal pendulum device (12) recited in claim 1, wherein the damping means (52) is connected to the spacer bolt (40) in a material or positive-fit connection.
 8. The centrifugal pendulum device (12) recited in claim 1, wherein at least two pendulum mass pairs are arranged neighboring each other on the periphery.
 9. A torque transmission device, such as a hydrodynamic torque converter and/or a torsional vibration damper (10) and/or a wet or dry clutch device and/or a double-mass flywheel, having a centrifugal pendulum device (12) as recited in claim
 1. 